Marina Heights

Fifty-five storeys from the 2006 generation — the tallest tower in Dubai Marina's first wave of development. Architecture by RMJM.

What it is

Marina Heights Tower is a 55-storey residential building completed in 2006. The architect is RMJM Dubai, the Scottish firm that also worked on Silverene and Trident Grand Residence in the same district.

At handover it was the tallest residential tower in the district — the 90-storey buildings didn't arrive for another six years.

The 2006 generation

Marina was built in waves, and 2006–2007 was the first of them. Eleven towers from that wave survive in the building records, and they shaped the district's look before the height records came along.

What they share isn't architecture but age: twenty years in service, established management companies and a legible building history.

What the first wave has going for it

2006-vintage towers have a property newer ones don't: they sit on the best plots. Development moved out from the water, and the first row on the waterfront went to this wave — the same "first row wins" pattern that plays out in any waterfront district built up in phases, from Miami's Brickell to London's Docklands.

Second is density. First-wave buildings were built with more room between blocks, and their views are blocked less than towers squeezed in later.

The cost of that is engineering age. Twenty years for a high-rise in a coastal climate means the façade, elevators and cooling systems have already been through at least one round of works, and it matters which one.

propsearch building record: 55 storeys, handed over 2006, architect RMJM Dubai. The 2006–2007 generation table is a selection from Dubai Marina tower records.